When we think about the call to love God in Scripture, we often think about loving God with our hearts. We think about loving Him over everything else. These things are certainly true when it comes to loving God. This is only one aspect of loving God, however. Scripture teaches that there are other elements of loving God, including loving God with all our minds. After all, when you love someone or something, that person or thing occupies your thoughts and attention.
We have seen in our Bible study together this week that Matthew 22:30 instructs followers of Jesus to love God with all of our minds, but what does this look like daily? Paul addressed this question, teaching us how to love God with our minds in Colossians 3. Reminding readers that Christ followers have a new life in Christ, he wrote, “set your sights on the realities of heaven… think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (verses 1-2). When we set our focus and attention on Christ, we love him with our mind.
How do we practically love God with our minds? One of the most obvious ways is to read Scripture, study it, and memorize it. When we read Scripture and study it, we set our minds on God and His word. We are reminding ourselves of the truth about God and heaven. We are choosing to focus on the things of Him instead of the things of this world.
When you think about your life, are you loving God with your mind, setting your mind on Him and His word? Are you spending time studying Scripture, learning from His word, and focusing on Him? If not, there is no better time to start than today. So let’s study God’s word, reflect on it, and love God with all of our minds. As we do this, He will shape our minds, and we will become more like Him.
Let’s practice loving God with our minds by memorizing Scripture today. Memorize Colossians 3:1-2. Let these verses be a reminder to you to love God with your mind whenever they come to your mind.
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father."
